Product category

Oral Care

A short aisle with one important carve-out, and otherwise a few simple label checks.

Toothpaste, mouthwash, toothbrushes, dental floss, whitening strips, kids toothpaste, tongue cleaner, and retainer cleaner.

What to check first

Fluoride — keep it; choose a simpler ingredient list
Abrasivity of whitening pastes
Kids’ paste — use the age-appropriate amount
SLS if you get mouth irritation
Strong flavour or added fragrance

Best first swap

Replace "glide"/PTFE-coated floss with uncoated, silk, or PFAS-free floss.

Common labels: fluoride-free (pause — fluoride is recommended), SLS-free, natural (unregulated)

Better options: Fluoride toothpaste with a short, simple ingredient list

Good to know

Fluoride toothpaste with simpler ingredients is appropriate — do not discontinue fluoride.

Dental Floss

Lower–moderate

LOW–MODERATE priority. The standout oral-care concern: some coated "glide"-type floss uses PFAS for slip. Uncoated, silk, or PFAS-free floss avoids it.

What to check: Avoid PTFE/"glide"/fluoropolymer-coated floss; choose uncoated nylon, silk, or floss explicitly labelled PFAS-free.

First swap

Replace "glide"/PTFE-coated floss with uncoated, silk, or PFAS-free floss.

Retainers, Mouthguards & Clear Aligners

Lower–moderate

LOW–MODERATE priority. Worn in the mouth for hours or overnight, so in-mouth dwell time is high; bisphenol release from some plastics is an emerging question.

What to check: Use the maker's cleaning method (don't soak in very hot water, which can warp plastic and may increase leaching), and replace cracked/worn appliances.

First swap

Clean retainers/aligners in cool water with the recommended cleaner — never hot water.

Toothpaste

Lower priority

Mostly spat out; the realistic issues are SLS-driven mouth ulcers in some people and unnecessary dyes — not fluoride, which prevents cavities.

What to check: SLS (if you get canker sores), synthetic dyes, and whether it still contains triclosan (largely phased out). Keep fluoride unless your dentist advises otherwise.

First swap

If you get recurring mouth ulcers, switch to an SLS-free toothpaste.

Kids' / Training Toothpaste

Lower priority

LOW priority, with one real point: young children swallow toothpaste, so DOSE and dyes matter more than for adults.

What to check: Use the dentist-recommended small amount (smear/pea-size by age), supervise brushing, and choose dye-free. Bright colours and sweet flavours encourage swallowing.

First swap

Use the correct small (pea-size) amount and switch to a dye-free kids' toothpaste.

Mouthwash

Lower priority

LOW priority — and often unnecessary. If used, alcohol-free is gentler; dyes and the quat actives are the points to note.

What to check: Whether you need mouthwash at all (brushing/flossing do the main work). If yes: alcohol-free, dye-free; note cetylpyridinium chloride is a quat.

First swap

If you use mouthwash daily, switch to an alcohol-free, dye-free one — or skip it.

Toothbrush

Lower priority

A minor microplastics-and-plastic-waste item; the dominant point is replacing it often enough for hygiene, not the material.

What to check: Mostly an environmental/microplastics angle. Bamboo handles with nylon bristles cut plastic; replace every ~3 months regardless of material.

First swap

Replace your toothbrush on schedule; try a bamboo handle to cut plastic.

Teeth Whitening

Lower priority

LOW priority for chemical exposure; the real issues are tooth sensitivity and gum irritation, not systemic toxicity.

What to check: Follow directions exactly (over-use causes sensitivity), and avoid ill- fitting trays that leak gel onto gums. The active is peroxide (see note).

First swap

Use whitening exactly as directed and stop if sensitivity develops — don't over-use.

Denture & Appliance Cleaners / Adhesives

Lower priority

Cleaning tablets and adhesives that contact the mouth; the notable points are persulfate allergens, fragrance, and dyes.

What to check: Rinse appliances well after cleaning-tablet soaks; choose fragrance-free/ dye-free where possible. Persulfates in some cleaners can cause irritation/allergy.

First swap

Rinse dentures/appliances thoroughly after any cleaning-tablet soak before putting them back in.

Materials to know

The everyday materials behind these products — and how they behave with heat and wear.

Non-Stick Coating Nylon Plastic

Labels you will see

What the claims on these products actually mean, with an honest verdict for each.

Alcohol Free Antibacterial BPA Free Dye Free Fluoride Free Fragrance Free PFAS Free PTFE / Teflon / Non-Stick Recyclable

Related chemicals

Plain-language guides to the ingredient groups that come up in this category.

BPA / BPS / Bisphenols Bisphenols on Thermal Receipts Fragrance Compounds Microplastics PFAS / Fluorinated Chemicals Quats SLS / SLES Synthetic Dyes Triclosan / Triclocarban VOCs

Important Disclaimer

Micro Detox is an educational exposure reduction guide. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any condition. If you are pregnant, trying to conceive, or managing symptoms, speak with a qualified health professional.

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